The Government of Japan approved the funding for the "AKBay – Agrikultura: Kaagapay ng Bayang Pinoy (Agriculture: A Partner in Philippine Progress) Program Phase II" for Typhoon Yolanda-Affected Areas under the Japan Food Security Project for Underprivileged Farmers, (formerly known as the 2KR Program). A fund support of One Hundred Thirty Nine Million Nine Hundred Seventy Nine Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (P139,979,500.00) from Japan's Official Development Assistance was approved for this project.
The project aims to contribute to the Philippine Government's recovery and rehabilitation efforts being provided to families in the agriculture and fishing communities in Typhoon Yolanda affected areas in Region VIII by providing income-generating opportunities and helping the displaced farmers and fishers re-establish their livelihood in relocation areas. The project will be implemented by the National Agricultural and Fishery Council (NAFC) of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
The project will be implemented for one year targeting around 8,500 farmer and fisher families. The project will cover the first five (5) severely damaged municipalities in four badly-hit provinces in Region VIII, namely: Leyte, Eastern Samar, Biliran and Western Samar. Project components include grant assistance of farming plant materials or fishing boats and paraphernalia worth P15,000 per farmer/fisher household with no repayment.
Super Typhoon Yolanda hit the Visayas Regions and the Palawan province on November 8, 2013, causing damages amounting to P39.82 Billion, with P19.56 Billion for infrastructures and P20.26 Billion for agriculture. While the immediate needs of the affected families were provided, there is a need for continuing help through livelihood opportunities that would provide sustainable means to assist the victims towards recovery.
For the past thirty years, the 2KR Program has made a positive impact on the livelihood of Filipino farmers. This project reaffirms Japan's commitment, as the top donor of the Official Development Assistance to the Philippines, to support the efforts of the Government of the Philippines to alleviate poverty and achieve food self-sufficiency. The project also serves as a continuing testimony of strategic partnership between Japan and the Philippines towards the future.
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